At Stake (Alex Troutt Thriller, #7) (Redemption Thriller, #19)

by John W Mefford

[Nadz@Totally Addicted to Reading]

AT Stake is an exciting addition to the Alex Troutt series. It demonstrates the brilliance of John W. Mefford in writing stories that will keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.

This installment features none other than the tenacious special agent for the FBI Alex Troutt and her friends along with a new player named Ozzie. He is not very new as he was introduced in the Ozzie Novak series. However, as I skipped that series I would consider him a new player. Ozzie works is a contractor for the FBI and is involved in conducting investigations geared towards Cyber-crimes. This job arose because of a deal made with the FBI.

The story began with two persons being held captive by someone on a quest for vengeance. Fast forward two months later three bombs went off at the Boston Marathon injuring several persons. There were a few fatalities as well. Among the injured was Alex’s partner. As a result, the investigation has become personal. She is more determined to discover who is responsible, even it means going up against the douche bag leader of the task force assemble to investigate the bombings. Left without her partner and her team members and forced to investigate from the sidelines, she enlists the help of her friend Ozzie to get the answers she desperately needs. My question is this amid all this how did the events, which took place two months ago tied in with the bombings? Were the events separate or is there a connection between the two?

AT Stake is a suspenseful read that is filled with enough twists and turns to keep you guessing until the moment all is revealed. Everything about this story was shocking, but the ending, which gives insight into what to expect from the next installment shocked me to the core. I honestly never saw that one coming. Now, I am eager to get my hands on the next book. I enjoyed the camaraderie between Ozzie and Alex. They worked well together, and their teamwork helped to bring the investigation together.

I love how the author is able to combine the action and suspense with the personal struggles of his protagonists. In the midst of the investigation, Alex is dealing with insecurities regarding her relationship with Brad while trying to raise two teenagers. Mr. Mefford skilfully combines the personal life of his characters with their professional lives. This helps to bring the characters to life making it easy to connect with them.

Conclusion/Recommendation

At Stake was an exciting, entertaining, suspenseful and thrilling read. Although each book can be read as a stand-alone, I would recommend reading them in order. Fans of thrillers and mysteries will enjoy this latest installment by John W. Mefford.